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Minnesota Inches Toward Final Diversion Plan Review

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota officials are inching toward completing a review of the Red River diversion project.

The Department of Natural Resources released a draft Monday of its environmental impact study of the $2 billion flood control project. Commissioner Tom Landwehr says a top concern is the high water that would build up behind a dam across the Red River.

That dam is a critical piece of the proposed flood control channel around the Fargo metropolitan area that project opponents say will unfairly affect upstream communities.

Minnesota's review is a linchpin for construction on the massive project. A federal judge halted construction on a ring levee around upstream towns in the staging area until the review is complete.

The state aims to finish sometime in 2016 after collecting public input.

(© Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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